Shield AI, Waabi, and general motors discuss AI safety in high-stakes environments at techcrunch disrupt 2026

At TechCrunch Disrupt 2026, leaders from Shield AI, Waabi, and General Motors will discuss AI safety in high-stakes environments. Nathan Michael, Shield AI’s CTO, will share insights on autonomous systems for critical applications, including the U.S. Air Force’s Collaborative Combat Aircraft drone program. He emphasized safety culture, testing, and validation. Waabi’s Raquel Urtasun, founder and CEO, stressed rigorous testing before autonomous vehicles can operate without human oversight, noting Waabi’s trucks still require full validation. Mikell Taylor, GM’s Director of Robotics Strategy, will address the human element in robotics, focusing on user experience and trust. The event, October 13-15 in San Francisco, will feature over 200 sessions across six stages, with more than 10,000 attendees expected. Ticket prices increased after September 25 at 11:59 p.m. PT, urging attendees to secure passes before the deadline to save up to $200 and receive a second pass for 50% off select ticket types.